The headquarters for hard-hitting discussion on issues and sharing of up-to-date information deemed to be relevant to Choiseul/Saltibus and the St. Lucian diaspora generally. The mainstream news media have not always lived up to our expectations in publishing our views or news and information about us. The POWERHOUSE attempts to fill that gap. We encourage everyone, everywhere to participate by sharing news, views, ideas and opinions about any topic of relevance.

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

OUR VOICE, THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY: A POWERHOUSE GUT REACTION

DR & MRS CHARLES AND GRANDSON

I felt awestruck by the outpouring of empathy demonstrated on Social Media for the
cause of Choiseul. To me, that empathy is a reflection of the extent
of humanity and care flowing in our blood for our fellowmen; it may also be a
suggestion that St. Lucia may still be a country “intact”, with perhaps just a
minority of us “dabbling” in counter-instances of humanity.

Perhaps,
we can even set those "counter-instances" aside and attribute them in part to normal
distribution theory.

The (unfortunately) noteworthy observation is perhaps that those who should
demonstrate the greatest degree of sublime humanity are generally those who are trapped to
the “left of the humanity curve”. Wouldn't it have been a much better Christmas season (for all of us) if only those who hold the relevant “levers of power” could
foster greater optimism, hope, and joy in the hearts of “the deprived ones”? Indeed,
Christmas is an ideal platform to make the assault. They did got the opportunity but frittered it away!

JIMMY AND LORNE SHARE A MOMENT

I
cannot camouflage my position on the excoriation of Jimmy Haynes by his own
parliamentary rep for the former's community activism. I ask: Why can’t we put the "dirty politics" aside for a moment, especially when we were responsible caps like "parliamentary rep"? Why should the SLP (who claim to know better than Jimmy’s
Party) do just like Jimmy’s men?

Let me inform readers that I have
been speaking with Jimmy; and I’m happy to inform you that we have agreed to put away
the “political cannibalism” (according to the Minister for Social Transformation)
and to come together for the greater good of Choiseul – and it is in this context that I take
issue with the cannibalistic pronouncements that were made at the SLP
constituency conference last month. Frankly speaking, they were uncalled for and déclassé!

DEDAN HONOURED BY THE CREDIT UNION

But
here’s the reality: Augustin Charles (Bolo), Jimmy Haynes (Jimmy) and Dedan Griffifth
Jn Baptiste (Gillo) with all our imperfections have tacitly agreed to bury the
political hatchet for the greater good of Choiseul! We have pledged (not only
want to make “a good place better” but) to start the process to also make our community a great place! Choiseul has all the elements and ingredients of greatness - all we have to do is to "bang start" the "reconfiguration process".

Regarding the pursuit of that process, the pundits perhaps may have many questions: "Is that 'unity' initiative sustainable?" Isn't that Bolo-Jimmy-Gilo 'triumvirate' a charade? Can these opportunistic guys ever bury their hatchet for the good of Choiseul (or, for that matter, anything good)? Wouldn't that battle among these notorius triumvirate gladiators soon resume and Choiseul not suffering from major collateral damage?

While these questions are legitimate, they also express a deep existential pessimism. To some of us, the success of any initiative involving those three fellahs is simply impossible (even if those guys may be "success stories" in more than one sphere of life)!But here are some facts you should know. I know Gillo and Jimmy very well; and they know me very well, too . . . and that mutual knowledge should provide us with a sound platform. We all have done SWOT analyses of each other. I went to school together with Gillo; I also taught with him for a number of years. We played in the same Bands (Black Inspirations and Dread Tones). Gillo also taught me a lot about cricket to the point where I became the captain, opening bat and the frontline leg spinner for my club. I never dreamed of those achievements and perhaps they would never become reality without Gillo.I have to admit that I had a totally different relationship configuration with Jimmy which is grounded in familial of filial relationships. My first son is a close relative of Jimmy, who I first met when I visited my son in Delcer and thereafter, for all our lives we have been close, treating each other like relatives, like brothers. Yes! we've had bitter political exchanges but those have never torn asunder our filial connections. His late Dad and mom are like mother and father to me.No doubt, Jimmy (like all of us) has his imperfections and idiosyncrasies; he must have made an inordinate number of mistakes but isn't it also fair to say that those may have been far outweighed by his infinitesimal intellectual and organisational talents and commitment to community. It may well be a fact that the former may well approach zero when compared to the latter! Forget the politics, Jimmy perhaps may have done more for Choiseul than many of the politicians who have represented us and that gives him an indisputably well-deserved presence among us.

Jimmy like many genuinely patriotic Choiseulian wants to elevate his community above the Carib/Arawak "paradigm" which is perceived to circumscribe our existence and causing those who are in command of the levers of power NOT to treat us with the respect we deserve.

Be
that as it may, we are nonetheless prepared to be the sacrificial lambs on the
altar of political cannibalism for the sake of a greater Anse Citron!

The
“authorities” have obviously embarked on a campaign of "the excoriation of Jimmy" for his articulation of the
problems of the constituency. Perhaps their hidden agenda is the pre-emptive destruction of the ROPE initiative before it gets off the ground; but the fact is Jimmy (like me) does not live on
Mars or Jupiter! He lives in the heart of constituency and understands the trajectory of constituency problems because he, too, lives those problems everyday! His 70-plus year old mom
lives mere metres away from the Delcer water facility and yet she is deprived of water – as is
the entire community of Delcer!

Morne
Sion, Lower Mongouge, Upper Reunion, parts of Cafeiere are also critically affected.
Hence, when we speak, we lay no claim that our voice is the "voice of God" but it not the "voice of Lucifer" either; our voice is simply the voice of our community. We hope that "those who ignore it" (and even excoriate us) when they hear it understand the full extent of their actions.

This article is no tribute to Jimmy; it is no defense of him, either! it's just a gut reaction.

When we wish to say in our native Kweyol that someone is seriously hurt in the chest or spine as a result a devastating blow or a fall, w...

Who ordered Sabwisha Beach fenced?

Who is trying to debar us from the Legacy that the Queen gave us?

Profiling Choiseul's Academia

Dr. Fred Isaac from the Community of Saltibus: an engineering guru

Profiling Choiseul's Academia

Dr Cosmos Lafeuillee:One of our very own. Distinguished Academic

Soccer in Saltibus

The Top Gunners were the winners

What is wrong with the Gertrine Playing Field?

can you tell me: What is wrong with this Playing Field. Email your answer to the Powerhouse

Welcome! Booklyn-New York-Morne Sion-Choiseul

Our condolences go out to Brooklyn-New York on the passing away of his brother. We wish him a pleasant trip back home.

Disasters in Saltibus

Extremely Dangerous on the main Road

Disasters in Saltibus

A narrow Escape for the occupnats

CHOISEUL CHURCH SCORES 100

the march for Christ

What about this danger in Roblot?

What are the authorities doing about this danger

Hurricane Tomas Disasters

House at Mongouge in danger

Mongouge Disasters

This victim needs urgent help. Her house was ravaged by Tomas and nobody has given her assistance

Geotechnical Disasters in Choiseul

What are we doing about this danger at the Sauzay junction?

Derek Walcott wins British prize

Honourable Derek Walcott makes St. Lucia proud

Comrade Julian Francis

Comrade Julian Francis provides insights into the Strategic Coomunications Lab. They are a rascist organisation which specialises in extremely dirty politics, creating irretrievable chaos and division among Caribbean people.

A disaster waiting to happen in Belle Vue, Choiseul

House at Mongouge damaged ripped by Tomas

Piaye Road

Gertrine disaster

PM says time to review dual citizenship issue

William Golding- PM of Jamaica

Barack Obama eases rules on US travel to Cuba

PRESIDENT OBAMA

Caribbean T20 Cricket LIVE on LIME TV

Dr Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive of the WICB

Leslie (A1) poses for a Photo with Lorne

A Hero & Stalwart from Mongouge

Mr Jerome Eugene who worked all his life to bring prosperity to mongouge

Forensic science to help beat sophisticated criminals

One of the main objectives of the Forensic capacity-building project is to develop the University of Mauritius and the UTech as Centres of Excellence in forensic education and training for their respective regions.

LORNE AND THE YOUTH

SLP questions AG'S statement on CARICOM Airways

Artisan village in Jamaica

Shared vision between Jamaica and Lorne! Naturally, the project being conceptualised for Choiseul will be indigeneous to us and much smaller

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE: BUT 'TIS TRUE!

This is a "PROUD" Road in Piaye. It has been in this condition long before Tomas. The Minister for the NDC approved a 600% increase in the price of lots; but does not care about the state of the road. In any case, the residents have got together and will repair the road themselves because they are the ones hit by the 'disaster'

Do you know this road?

Answer coming up in next article.

Gertrine Geotechnical disaster

Gertrine Geotechnical Disaster

Antigua gets Aid from China

Antigua and Barbuda governmetn ministers and members of the Chinese delegation signed four agreements that pave the way for the commencement of a number of projects

"Sir" Allan Stanford Trial to Begin

Allan Stanford

Lorne's Constituency Tours

Lorne treks deep into the hinterlands of Choiseul. So far, his impact on the political landscape has been phenomenal

LORNE'S CONSTITUENCY TOURS

Lorne reaches deep into rural Choiseul; Indeed, he is very comfortable with all the folks and they accept him with wide open arms

Sir Ronald Sanders

Sir Ronald Sanders is a business executive and former Caribbean diplomat who publishes widely on Small States in the global community.

Dr Anthony wants Compliance with ECCAA

Dr Anthony is St. Lucia's former Prime Minister. He is also a former law professor and formidable Caribbean intellectual. The Government of St. Lucia would do well with his legal and consultancy expertise in the Caricom Airways Debacle

Major Earthquake Predicted for the region

Dr Anthony Predicts the Outcome of the next General Elections

Dr Anthony predicts UWP will lose, badly!

XMAS JOUVERT 2010

STILL A STRONG TRADITION

XMAS JOUVERT

SCENE FROM XMAS JOUVERT AT VICTORIA, CHOISEUL

Therapeutic Views

A View from Morrel

IS THE WEST COAST ROAD SAFE?

This picture tells it all

LORNE CONTINUES HIS SYSTEMATIC CONSTITUENCY TOURS

Lorne is received enthusisatically all over the constituency

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

Massive but discipline crowds is guaranteed

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

Large Crowds turn out for C&W Events

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

Gilbert and Partner

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

Prince Charles is surely No. 1

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

The Rocker from Dotcom Sounds

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

The Ultimate DJ Pryo at Radio 100

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

Theresa and Arthur demonstrate their talent

THE STATUS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN IN CHOISEUL AND SAINT LUCIA

DJ Dynamix

Country & Western dancing

The Best waltzing pair

Beauty Adorns Beautiful Guyabois

Guyabois roads are in a deplorable condition; but lots of great artefacts to see - like this one!

Wonder Sights

The wonderful community of Fond Jen Lib located at the foot of Gros Piton

The Calypso King of Choiseul

This young man is (Smoove) our calypso king. He won with a calypso "Cat's a Man best Friend", Next to him is Mr Phillip who is the Social Transformation Officer for Choiseul.

Tales of Extreme Rural Misery in Choiseul

Equipment rusting away instead of being used to help poor people

Tales of Extreme Rural Misery in Choiseul

Stretches of Prime Agricultural Land being Dredged for Housing Scheme

Tales of Extreme Rural Misery in Choiseul

Stones for Sale; but no road to transport them

Tales of Misery in Choiseul

Road turned Gully!

Tales of Misery in Choiseul

Lorne chats with Disabled Man

How do you rate Hon Harold Dalson's handling of the Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques Disaster by Tomas?